Mr Trevor Friedman to appear in court for demolishing a house
Mr Trevor Friedman is facing charges of malicious damage to property and will appear in the Bethal Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 8 July.
BETHAL – Mr Trevor Friedman was caught on camera destroying Ms Masethu Rasebolai’s house at Halfgewonnen Farm recently.
According to eye witnesses, Mr Friedman was driving a TLB Truck when he drove through the fence and began to demolish the house.
The 71–year–old blind Ms Rasebolai said she heard a noise from outside and sent her son to find out what was happening.
She was told that Mr Friedman was destroying the house with a TLB truck.
“I urged my children not to fight with him because we did not know the reason why was he doing that.
“Hearing the sound of my house being destroyed, was heartbreaking and all I could do was cry.
“I still do not know why he demolished the house as he did not even utter a word while doing it.”
The house was built by Mr David Mabuza, Premier of Mpumalanga, as part of the Premier Legacy in 2012.
Ms Rasebolai said although the house was left incomplete by the contractor, she completed it herself using her pension money.
Mr Zibonele Mgcwango, spokesman for the Premier, was not aware that the house was incomplete. but promised to follow up.
He condemned the action of Mr Friedman and said he does not understand why he demolished the house because the Premier’s office had an agreement with him before the houses were built.
“What happened is unfair because the old woman needs a proper house.
“We will try to create a dialogue between Mr Friedman and Ms Rasebolai to see if the matter can be resolved.”
Mr Mapike Mtsweni, Ward 15 councillor, intervened after Ms Rasebolai was rejected at the Bethal Police Station two times on the basis that she should report the matter to the councillor.
He confronted Lt-Col Mtungwa, Bethal Police Station Commander, to appoint an officer to deal with the matter.
“I could not understand why it was hard for the police to deal with this immediately.
“The actions of Mr Friedman shocked me because I was there from the beginning when the Premier initiated to build the house.
“It confuses me that it is only Ms Rasebolai’s house that was destroyed.
“I hope that justice will prevail.”
Mr Friedman said he would like to give his side of the story, but at this stage he cannot comment because of the court case.
He will appear in the Bethal Magistrates’s Court on Wednesday, 8 July.
